Anterior Maxillary Growth in Implantology: Complications, Management, and Prevention

Osseointegrated implantology initially concerned fully edentulous patients, then in time involved partially edentulous patients, and finally, has developed to include patients with single teeth missing on healed ridges and immediate implant placement after extraction. Thus, it was within a normal range of evidence to place implants in adolescents with congenital agenesis or prone to accidents or young adults under 30 after failure of a conservative dental treatment. However, over time the dental profession came to realize that this treatment modality was vulnerable to complications induced by maxillary/mandibular anterior growth with these patients. Although the literature may support the efficacy of osseointegrated implants for fully and partially edentulous patients, care and monitoring must be exercised over at least a 15-year period when treating adolescents with incomplete bone formation with single-tooth replacement.